Dark (type)
Template:ElementalTypes Template:TypeNotice Some notable trainers of Dark-types include Karen of the Indigo Plateau Elite Four and Sidney of the Hoenn Elite Four. Notably, the Dark-type is the only type that has not had at least one Pokémon Gym dedicated to it.
Statistical averages
| Stat | Range | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| At Lv. 50 | At Lv. 100 | ||
HP: 66
|
126 - 173 | 242 - 336 | |
93
|
88 - 159 | 171 - 313 | |
59
|
57 - 122 | 110 - 238 | |
76
|
72 - 140 | 141 - 276 | |
60
|
58 - 123 | 112 - 240 | |
71
|
68 - 135 | 132 - 265 | |
Total: 425
|
Other Pokémon with this total | ||
Battle properties
Dark-type moves:
- Are super-effective against: Ghost, Psychic
- Are not very effective against: Dark, Fighting, Steel
- Have no effect against: None
Dark-type Pokémon:
Characteristics
Dark-type Pokémon were added in Generation II.
Dark-type Pokémon are notable for the fact that they don't have any strong stat trends other than Attack (which is in and of itself modified by a few powerful outliers), but usually have relatively poor defenses, with the exception of Umbreon and Tyranitar (the second is probably due to Template:T2). Just the same, Pokémon that are both Dark-type and Template:Type2 have no true weaknesses, as the resistances of the Dark-type cover the weaknesses of Ghost, and vice-versa. One of the greatest advantages of the Dark-type is that they are immune to Template:Type2s.
Dark-type moves, when combating Psychic-types, are especially useful due to their secondary effects; Crunch lowers Defense (an already low stat among Psychic-types), Bite causes Flinching, and Faint Attack never misses. Pursuit hits a Pokémon on a switch. Many Dark-type moves also involve stealing or deception, such as moves like Thief, which steals an opponent's held item, and Snatch, which steals the beneficial effects of an opponent's moves. This helps explain what "Dark" means, since it could easily be misconstrued that Dark refers to nighttime and darkness (despite the evolutionary trigger for Umbreon).
Interestingly, despite the fact that in generations prior to Generation IV, all Dark-type moves were special moves, there is only one special Dark-type move in Generation IV, which itself was actually introduced in that generation, meaning all Dark-type moves from before are actually considered physical moves.
Pokémon
Pure Dark-type Pokémon
| # | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| 197 | File:197MS.gif | Umbreon |
| 261 | File:261MS.gif | Poochyena |
| 262 | File:262MS.gif | Mightyena |
| 359 | File:359MS.gif | Absol |
| 491 | 
|
Darkrai |
Half Dark-type Pokémon
Primary Dark-type Pokémon
Secondary Dark-type Pokémon
Moves
Damage-dealing moves
| Name | Category | Contest | Power | Accuracy | PP | Target | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assurance | 
|
Beauty | 50 | 100% | 10 | One foe | If the target has already taken some damage in the same turn, this attack's power is doubled. |
| Beat Up |
|
Smart | 10 | 100% | 10 | One foe | Does more damage the more Pokémon are in the user's party. |
| Bite |
|
Tough | 60 | 100% | 25 | One foe | Has a 10% chance of causing the opponent to flinch. |
| Crunch |
|
Tough | 80 | 100% | 15 | One foe | Has a 20% chance of lowering target's Defense. |
| Dark Pulse | 
|
Cool | 80 | 100% | 15 | One foe | Has a 20% chance of making the target flinch. |
| Faint Attack |
|
Smart | 60 | —% | 20 | One foe | Never misses. |
| Fling |
|
Tough | Varies | 100% | 10 | One foe | Throws held item, power and effects depend on held item. |
| Knock Off |
|
Smart | 20 | 100% | 20 | One foe | Prevents the target from using its held item. |
| Night Slash |
|
Beauty | 70 | 100% | 15 | One foe | Has a high critical hit ratio. |
| Payback |
|
Cool | 50 | 100% | 10 | One foe | Power doubles if used after opponent attacks. |
| Punishment |
|
Smart | Varies | 100% | 5 | One foe | Power increases the more the target has powered up with stat changes. |
| Pursuit |
|
Smart | 40 | 100% | 20 | One foe | Deals double damage if target is switching out of battle. |
| Sucker Punch |
|
Smart | 80 | 100% | 5 | One foe | Attacks first. Fails if target is not preparing an attack. |
| Thief |
|
Tough | 40 | 100% | 10 | One foe | Steals target's held item if user has no held item. |
Non-damaging moves
| Name | Category | Contest | Power | Accuracy | PP | Target | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Void | 
|
Smart | — | 80% | 10 | Both foes | Puts the target to sleep. |
| Embargo |
|
Cute | — | 100% | 15 | One foe | Prevents the target from using its held item. Also prevents Trainers from using items on it. |
| Fake Tears |
|
Smart | — | 100% | 20 | One foe | Sharply lowers the target's Special Defense. |
| Flatter |
|
Smart | — | 100% | 15 | One foe | Confuses the target. However, it also raises the target's Special Attack. |
| Memento |
|
Tough | — | 100% | 10 | One foe | The user faints. In return, it sharply lowers the target's Attack and Special Attack. |
| Nasty Plot |
|
Cute | — | —% | 20 | User | Sharply raises the user's Special Attack. |
| Snatch |
|
Smart | — | —% | 10 | Reaction | Steals the effects of any healing or status-changing move the target attempts to use. |
| Switcheroo |
|
Cool | — | 100% | 10 | One foe | The user trades held items with the target. |
| Taunt |
|
Smart | — | 100% | 20 | One foe | The target can only use attack moves for two to four turns. |
| Torment |
|
Smart | — | 100% | 15 | One foe | The target can't use the same move twice in a row. |
Trivia
- Dark Void is the only Dark-type move that does not have 100% accuracy.
- There are no Dark-type moves with a base power more than 80, and is the only elemental type without a single move with a base power of 100 or more.
- None of the main characters of the anime own a Dark-type Pokémon. However, Ash, James and May own or have owned Pokémon that can evolve into a Dark-type; Larvitar, Corphish, Cacnea and Eevee respectively. May's Eevee eventually evolved into a Glaceon.
- Before Diamond and Pearl damaging Dark-type moves were all considered Special, but since then all damaging Dark-type moves are Physical, except for Dark Pulse.
- Dark is the only type that was not represented in a GYM yet.
In other languages
- French: Ténèbres
- German: Unlicht
- Italian: Buio
- Spanish: Siniestro
- Korean: 악 ak
- Hebrew. אפל affel
